Methods, systems and computer program products for packet prioritization based on delivery time expectation

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for packet prioritization based on delivery time expectation. Exemplary embodiments include receiving a packet for routing, estimating a TimeToDestination for the packet, the estimating performed by a Internet Control Message Protocol, reading a TimeToDeliver field from each the Internet Protocol Header of the packet to extract data on when the packet needs to be at the destination, determining a MaxQueueDelay for the packet, the MaxQueueDelay calculated by subtracting the TimeToDeliver from the TimeToDestination, passing a lower priority packet if the lower priority packet has a lower MaxQueueDelay, and decrementing the TimeToDeliver by an amount of time the network router has had the packet in the queue before passing the packet to a next router, thereby communicating to the next router how much time is left before the packet must be delivered.

1. In a network router having a queue, a packet prioritization method based on delivery time expectation, the method consisting of:
 receiving a packet for routing, wherein the packet is prioritized based on respective delivery requirements and relative distance to the packet's destination, and wherein the packet has an Internet Protocol header; 
 estimating a TimeToDestination for the packet, the estimating performed by an Internet Control Message Protocol; 
 reading a TimeToDeliver field from the Internet Protocol Header of the packet to extract data on when the packet needs to be at the destination; 
 determining a MaxQueueDelay for the packet, the MaxQueueDelay calculated by subtracting the TimeToDeliver from the TimeToDestination; 
 in response to the MaxQueueDelay of the packet being longer than the packet would take in a current queue length, based on the packet priority, passing a lower priority packet if the lower priority packet has a lower MaxQueueDelay; and 
 decrementing the TimeToDeliver by an amount of time the network router has had the packet in the queue before passing the packet to a next router, thereby communicating to the next router how much time is left before the packet must be delivered. 
 
   
   
     2. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the lower priority packet is allowed to pass a higher priority packet if the higher priority packet does not sit in the queue longer than the MaxQueueDelay of the higher priority packet. 
   
   
     3. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the lower priority packet is not allowed to pass a higher priority packet if the higher priority packet has a MaxQueueDelay less than the MaxQueueDelay of the lower priority packet. 
   
   
     4. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein, the lower priority packet is not allowed to pass a higher priority packet if the higher priority packet has a MaxQueueDelay equal to the MaxQueueDelay of the lower priority packet.